Category Archives: ESCOs

COVID-19 Adjustments to CMS Alternate Payment Models

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CMS has published a web page on CMS Innovation Center COVID-19 Flexibilities detailing current and future changes to their proposed alternate payment models (Comprehensive ESRD Care, Kidney Care Choices) as a result of COVID-19.  Find the page at https://innovation.cms.gov/innovation-models/covid-19-flexibilities.

ASN KidneyNewsOnline also has an article on the subject, Significant Update from CMS on Voluntary Models and ESCOs Including Q&A, at https://www.kidneynews.org/policy-advocacy/leading-edge/significant-update-from-cms-on-voluntary-models-and-escos-including-qa.

New CMS ACO and ESCO Resources

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CMS has added many new tools to it’s Accountable Care Organization home page, including several on ESRD Seamless Care Organizations.  Examples from February 2020 include these Case Study PDFs:

  • Keystone ACO’s Health Navigator Program to Identify and Close Care Gaps.
  • Atlantic Dialysis Management Services’ Patient Navigator Program.
  • Centers for Dialysis Care’s Patient Advisory Committees.

The Comprehensive ESRD Care Model page has also been recently updated.  Find links to all these and more at https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/aco/.

6/10 ESCO Webinar & 6/23 Workshop

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CMS has invited applications for dialysis providers to convert to the Comprehensive ESRD Care (CEC) form of organization, which tests and evaluates new ways to improve patient-centered coordinated ESRD care.  Participants will form ESRD Seamless Care Organizations (ESCOs) composed of dialysis facilities, nephrologists, and other related healthcare providers.  Applications are due by July 15, 2016 for ESCOs beginning service January 1, 2017.  For more information on ESCOs, see https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/comprehensive-ESRD-care/ .  

The NRAA is presenting a “Roadmap to Integrated Kidney Care” that will help potential applicants understand the ESCO process, beginning with a webinar June 10, 2016, and continuing with an in-person workshop in the Chicago area June 23-24, 2016.  The workshop will include a discussion led by members of the thirteen already-operating ESCOs, who have experience with the application process.  Registration is required for the webinar and workshop.  For full details and registration, see http://www.nraa.org/index.php/component/content/article/97-webinars/645-roadmap-to-integrated-care .